Victims of clergy abuse sue Vatican, seek names of abusers

Attorney Jeff Anderson (left) with Manuel Vega, who says he was sexually abused by a priest over a five-year period decades ago, describes Vega's lawsuit against the Vatican, seeking the names of all offenders within the church worldwide, at a news conference in Los Angeles, October 4, 2018 - AP photo

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Five victims of sex abuse by Catholic priests plan to sue the Vatican and are demanding to know the names of thousands of predator priests they say have been kept secret.

Attorney Jeff Anderson plans to file his lawsuit on Tuesday.

The plaintiffs include three brothers who were abused by former priest Curtis Wehmeyer as recently as 2012 in St Paul, Minnesota.

Wehmeyer pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct and child pornography in connection with his contact with two of the boys, who were 12 and 14.

The brothers plan to speak about the case at a Tuesday news conference.

Wehmeyer’s arrest led prosecutors to charge the Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis for failing to protect children.

It also led to the forced resignation of then-Archbishop John Nienstedt.